Occupational health and safety news and guidance

The lives of several workers were put at risk as they demolished an old office block in Liverpool, a court has heard.

An inspector from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) issued an immediate Prohibition Notice ordering Total Demolition UK Ltd. to stop work at the site on Blundell Street in the city centre until workers had protection against falling from height.

Liverpool Magistrates' Court heard today (31 January 2013) that the inspector was called out to the demolition site on 6 August 2012 after receiving a complaint about the work being carried out by the firm. When she arrived, she saw most of the building above the second floor had already been demolished.

Two of the workers were standing close to the edge of the second floor where the wall had been removed, and were throwing waste to the ground below. They were seen clambering over rubble but no safety measures were in place to stop them falling if they tripped and lost their balance.

Total Demolition UK Ltd., of Maddock Street in Birkenhead, was fined £5,000 with £2,968 costs after pleading guilty to a breach of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.